I’m honestly so excited to show you our new One Room Challenge Vintage Summer family room REVEAL!!! It’s so fitting, too, because the entire family helped to get it done in time! There is so much colour that the space feels off the charts happy…the positive vibes are bursting!
Thanks so much for sharing in all the fun over the past 6 weeks and to Linda from Calling It Home for hosting such a wild time! You can see all of the 250+ room reveals taking part here!
Hyper Speed Bring You Up to Speed
If you’re new to the challenge: week 1 the plan and the befores, week 2 the purchases, week 3 the herringbone wall and mill work, week 4 the window seats, week 5 the art work and bar cart!
A Walk Down Memory Lane…cue the tears!
2 Years Ago (when we were about to take possession of the home):
It’s so crazy to see how big Juliette is now, and the old wall that the fireplace was on, and the old bathroom, and the hallway now has a mudroom…
6 Weeks Ago:
It’s a bare bones drywall space with lots of potential that drove me nuts because it had no character or storage…or mantle!!!
4 Weeks Ago:
Today:
The fireplace is in a space that makes sense, the old fireplace is gone and a dedicated laundry room is in its place (a reveal to come!), there is a mudroom in the hallway where the old laundry machines were, a new powder room at the end of the hall…and then the finishing touches to our family room, at last!
Colour
The colour in this new space really works for us but don’t be fooled, you could style this room in so many ways. All the fixed elements are completely neutral and I think that’s really fun. Our entire home is neutral, but I might have to point it out, since there are layers of colour and pattern in most spaces.
I was freaking nervous when I decided that we needed a seafoam sectional to match the linen-tie-up-shades, that nervousness is what makes it exciting!! The sectional upholstery came in light grey and that’s the colour on display at the store. I brought my husband to look at it and the fabric samples and I said, “I want the seafoam, but we should get the grey right?” He said, “will you be happy with the grey?” and I said, ” no, but it’s safe. I feel nothing when I look at the grey and when I look at and touch the seafoam sample my heart sings a little”. Then all of a sudden I yelled, “SEAFOAM” to the lady and didn’t look back.
Deep Thoughts on Design lol!
Design HAS to speak to you. Colours, textures, patterns, patina’s: they all speak to you, if you listen. If you touch something you like, you feel the energy in your hand. Try it? If you keep paying attention, it gets louder. You should surround yourself by things that you love and it will be exciting to literally walk into the room, every time.
I’m always standing in different places at different points of the day to catch glimpses of the spaces in our home and it brings me joy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows because I do the same thing when I’m not liking a space or haven’t renovated it yet, to figure it out (helloooo did you see that painful before). The morning before the sectional was delivered I was so nervous it was amazing…I love that nervous excited feeling before installing a piece. It was the last piece too, which was extra crazy, nerve wracking, and fun.
When things are right, they just click and you don’t have to give them another thought. That’s what happened with the colour. It came in and it was perfect and I haven’t thought about it. When something’s not right it just kind of grates at you naggingly FOREVER…lol. It happens though…my advice is to switch out the problem. For example, if you paint a space the wrong colour, suck it up and get it the right colour cause it’s not going to bring you peace until you do. It’s OK to make mistakes. It really is OK. It’s not your fault…shizz happens. You gotta break some eggs. (Hopefully it’s not the most costly egg in the room…lol!) Remember how I got the totally wrong fabric for the bench cushions for the window seats?! Yup…I sucked it up and fixed it, and I’m so glad that I did!
Oh that reminds me. I made another mistake! Remember the vintage horse hair sofa from week two that I found on Craigslist?! What the hell was I thinking?! So NOT the right piece for the family room. But it is the right piece for an entryway, instead of a bench… LIGHTBULB! Things evolve when a space comes together. All of a sudden the super wide space I was dealing with clearly needed a sectional with a left facing chaise, so that you could get a view of the barcart and egg chair on the wall perfectly when you enter the space!!! Imagine a loveseat blocking those touches? nope. 
What’s in a Name?
I called this space Vintage Summer. Vintage because there are a ton of vintage pieces, and vintage profiles in this space. E.g. hanging chair, sectional shape. Every piece on the bar cart is vintage. 
The set of 3 pink Ginger Jars is from a little antique mall. FIND OF THE CENTURY! $30 bucks for all 3…so in love! (the 3rd is on the coffee table ;)) 
And my grandma’s phone!! I’m so in love with this piece!
and Summer because of the colour in the room and the subject matter in the artwork. I think it’s the perfect way to start Summer, but it will be equally fun in the winter when you need a dose of sunshine on a harsh day.
This print of the Teil Duncan painting entitled Vintage Swim…just totally and completely sums up my space and it’s funny because it’s everyone’s first comment when they come into the space and the last thing they leave talking about! It’s so beautiful and that frame…so swoon (I have a promo code in my week 5 post to get this frame from Framebridge for a discount;)).
The mantle was actually the spot where we came to blows on this reno. Ben didn’t want a mantle because he wanted the space more modern and I get that and it would have looked good either way, but I really needed the mantle. Styling mantles is honestly one of the most fun things to do in life. I’m serious. LOL. but seriously. Look how happy and full of purpose I am…you can’t make that up. LOL! I’m sorry Ben and I hope you forgive me and thank you for the mantle. xoxo
Millwork and Shelfies
I also just want to give another massive thank you to my husband’s brother Ben and his friend Matt Cornies for the millwork and the herrigbone wall…in case you missed the detailed post on the highlight of the space read it here. The herringbone background gives so much depth to the shelves!
Layered Rugs
I layered the new rug over the recycled jean rug that I had in the space originally and I love the bohemian vibe that the mix of textiles adds to the space.
Coffee Table and Tray
We already had this Pottery Barn coffee table, but it looks so much better now, I’m in shock! It was never very functional before because we bought it on sale because it didn’t have a glass top. I found this amazing round coffee table tray that has gold bamboo detailing like in the art frames and now it has so much functionality! 
Anthropologie Chair and Floor Lamp
I’ve loved this Anthro chair for years and years and I found it on Craigslist! You can read about the find and source the chair here.
The floor lamp is so awesome and from Canadian Tire and I’ve linked it. I highly recommend!
Here are links to the 3 art pieces in this space: Nude, Banana Leaves, Ginger Jar.
Window Seat(s), Chandelier, Bench Cushion, Baskets, Pillows
All of the sources for the window seats are linked in the week 4 update 😉
Hanging Chair and Bar Cart
You can find all the sources for the bar cart in the week 5 post and the hanging chair is from Homesense which is the Canadian version of Homegoods. I have too much fun in that chair!! I’ll also be sharing a full post on the bar cart over on Inspired by This soon! All of the gorgeous artwork is linked here!
I hope you guys like the new space because we really do! I just want to thank Framebridge for the Framing, Canadian Tire’s Canvas Line for the chandeliers, floor lamp, and baskets, Teil Duncan, Laura Dro, and Maren Devine for their stunning artwork, and RugsUSA for their sponsorship because the space wouldn’t be what it is without their products and support.
And another special thank you to Cori from CJH Florals for the blooms, Aggie and Francois for the beautiful boho dress Juliette is wearing, and to Vicki Bartel for the stunning photography!!
Ok now a couple more pics….!!
P.S. Honestly, this chair is way too fun! You gotta sit in one!
What a beautiful transformation! It is simply gorgeous and so warm and welcoming! So much to love about it … lots of life to happen there! Enjoy!
Hi Kim oh thanks so much!!!! So glad you like it…makes me so happy!
It turned out amazing!!! I love how you mixed in all the vintage pieces. And the millwork is beautiful!!
Oh thank you! The vintage really turned out to be my favourite part too!!
So bright and cheery! As previously said love the vintage pieces mixed in. Really well done !
Hi Christine thanks so much…so happy to be done and enjoying it! thanks again for the comment!
Amazing! I’ve been patiently awaiting the reveal-I am always so inspired to go home and get my interior design on, so thank you for that 🙂 Absolutely love your section “Deep Thoughts on Design LOL” I always try and tell my husband that haha he’s catching on 😉 This space makes me want to lounge on that gorgeous couch in the sun with a good drink! haha, you are incredible!! xo
Hi Jessica, thanks so much for reading…I know you need to make sure you love every last bit of your space eh?! Yes it totally makes you want to have a drink!! lol!! I’m in trouble!
Absolutely gorgeous! So proud of you and your beautiful family.
Oh Thanks Mom!! Couldn’t have done it without your help! Obviously!!! xoxoxo
INCREDIBLE design skills, just absolutely stunning!
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for the encouragement!!
holy cow! this is absolutely incredible! i LOVE that herringbone wall- it’s a show stopper! i also love the brightness and the color you brought in!
Oh my gosh!! So pumped you love the colour and the wall! I always say holy cow too to describe things! love it!!!
I’ve been waiting for this reveal the entire challenge! Oh boy, you did not disappoint! Everything about this space is perfect! WOW! I’m in love!
Hi Iris! That’s so cool that you followed along! Thank you so much for the support…I so appreciate it!! so glad you like it! yay!
Leslie, this is summer family room is absolutely STUNNING! What a meaningful labor of love transforming this space from the ordinary to extraordinary! That herringbone wall and fireplace are show stoppers! I absolutely love the colors from the beautiful blue sofa to the rugs! The built in shelves anchor the room and give it life! Cheers on a job well done! XOXO, Sarah
Hi Sarah! Oh wow thank you so much…so glad you like the builtins…they are the best way to amp up a space eh?! So happy you like the colour!! Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment…you rock!!
Holy cow, if it’s wrong to be in love with a room, I don’t want to be right <3 Amazing work! That's a huge job, you deserve a glass or three of wine!
Hi Sabrina….oh trust me the wine has been flowing!! hahah…but seriously…it has. lol! I love your writing and blog! Thank you so much for the vote of confidence…made my day!
I had a feeling I would love the reveal of this room when I caught a glimpse of the herringbone fireplace a few weeks back! But whoa, you have blown my mind! I’m so excited that you went with the sea foam sectional. It really makes the room sing! There are so many beautiful “moments” in this room but it all looks so cohesive! I can’t wait to follow your blog and see what else you have in store!
Jess
@hashtagbigfamily
Hi Jess, I’m so glad you like the seafoam too…that’s so awesome! Thank you so much for saying that all the different elements come together cohesively because that was such a huge concern with everything that’s going on, so that’s such a special compliment because it was at the forefront of my mind. Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment!
Vibrant room … love it. And wondering where you acquired the recycled jean rug. I’m on the lookout for a large bluey grey rag rug and that looks like it would fit the bill. Beautiful room.
Hi Lisa, thank you! That rug is from West Elm but I got it a few years ago, so I’m thinking they wouldn’t have it. I just checked rugusa and here’s a link to a version…or try wayfair or overstock and search denim rug. I bet you’ll find a bunch!
https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/anji-mountain-american-graffiti/Denim/157AMB1032-508.html
Wow, what a beautiful room. I love how it turned out. The herringbone wall is amazing. and I love the little pops of pink too. Great job.
Thank you Dannyelle! So pumped that you like it!! Pink is so good sometimes!
Leslie, it all looks so fresh and amazing! Every square inch and every detail is absolutely stunning! What a sweet baby girl you have!
Thanks Lea! Oh I’m so lucky to have Juliette! I LOVED your reveal so much!!
This room looks so amazing!! Love the injection of colour on the neutral backdrop and the amazing textures everywhere! The beach or near the water is my all time favourite place to be and this room conjures up the exact same feelings; and the art……….I’m in love!! Can I ask where you purchased the sectional? Loving your blog and can’t wait to see what you do next!
Hi Julie, thank you!!! I love the beach too!! The sectional is from The Brick. Thanks again so much!
Such a gorgeous and unusual looking space, I love the herringbone wall and my favorite – grandma’s phone :).
Oh thanks Delia!! I love the phone too! I had a clock that’s hers to hang to but we ran out of time….now I have to figure out a new spot for it…but it’s so retro and cool too!
This is one transformation I was dying to see, and you did not disappoint one bit! Everything is so stunning and very calming! You did a wonderful job!:) Congrats!!
http://www.raisingafarmhouse.com
Oh that’s so awesome that you followed along-thank you!…so fun! Thank you for the encouragement!!!
This room is stunning!! Love the textures and pops of color on the neutral background!! The couch, art, rugs……it all looks amazing together! Can I ask where the rug is from?
Hi Julie thanks so much! The rug is from RugsUSA. There is a link in the post too if you can’t find it. But just search Bohemian on their website and it comes up right away! It’s really pretty in person!
My mistake, I know you linked the rug…..meant to ask where the SOFA is from?? Oops!!
Hi Julie, it’s from The Brick 😉
LOVE this room, Leslie!
FYI: My mother has the same cocktail/wine glasses with the blue and gold swirls, and apparently they were a gas station giveaway back in the day! Who would of thought gas stations could be so stylish?
Cheers!
Hi Vanessa! I totally believe that because I’ve found a lot of the pieces to the set in totally different places. My Mom has dishes that you got from the grocery store and different pieces were issued each week and tons of people have those. Simpler time…I wish we could go back!!
WOW!!!!! You were clearly born to do the One Room Challenge! Lol! You absolutely nailed it with this brilliant design. I love every single detail! Congratulation on a beautiful new room and for getting your way on the mantle! xoxo
Hey Jen!! Oh my gosh thank you!! lol…yup we can’t budge on what we want, right?!! lol! Thank you for the encouragement! I loved following along with your guest bedroom!!
Such a beautiful and well done makeover and I adore the photography too
Hi Julia, thanks so much! Yes Vicki the photographer is so good! Love her!
Seafoam! Love the colour and the whole room comes together beautifully 🙂
hahah Go Seafoam! lol! Oh thank you so so much!
Wow! This blog is amazing!!!! The photos are stunning and the space in real life is even more beautiful!!! It was such a treat seeing you and your family!!! Congratulations Les, I’m so proud of you!! I’ll be visiting your blog again soon!! 💞
Erin!!! So excited to see you here…thanks for stopping by…means so much. P.S. totally accidentally I wore a tunic yesterday for Mother’s Day and I have one on now. #tunicmomnightout
The transformation really does feel like a fresh summer breeze! I absolutely love how much character you brought to the room and the layers of soft colors and textures. Those window seats look so inviting… Congratulations on a fabulous makeover!
Hi Kevin, thank you so much…it was a lot of fun to do. Thank you for mentioning character that was the aim and the seats are comfortable…I tried them out the other day!! thanks again for the comment!
Leslie (I like saying your name because it is my name too) this room is amazing. How amazing you ask – so amazing that husband who fake pretends to like decorating actually stopped looking at his phone to say “Wow!”…you can take that to the bank!
and…I featured your room on a round-up of living rooms and when I look at my stats and EVERYONE is heading over to see your place.
I cannot wait until we sell our house so I can be experiencing that renovating high. I miss it…like ALOT!
Good job from another Lesli –
Hi Lesli,
omg that is so awesome and thank you!!! Thank you so much for the feature!! You’re so right about that renovating high! lol! I looked at your insta and your house is so beautiful…love the colour palette! I’ll be following along!! Thanks for the encouraging comment!
WOW and then more WOW! Love your herringbone wall, what a labor of love (or major expense) depending on who did it! And then to add the fireplace, shelves and window seats in front…genius! Your room has so many lovely and fun details. I’m usually all about color, texture and patterns, and your room has all that, just on a more subtle scale. SEAFOAM couch! It’s perfect and pulls the whole room together. Your first reno was a transformation and where many would have kept it, but you took your room to a whole new dimension!! Incredible vision! Congrats!!
Hi Beverly!! thank you so much for the super sweet and encouraging words!!! Yes seafoam is so fun eh?! So glad it worked out and I’m SO happy that you like it!!
Wow! Such a huge change. Love every bit.
Thanks so much! Gotta love big changes…I’m pretty addicted! Thanks for reading!
I love your sectional – we recently purchased a seafoam tufted Chesterfield – in fact I have to hold back from buying everything in seafoam ! I like the curtain swags and tufted window seat cushions and you dress your girls in such beautiful dresses!
Thank you so much! I know I’m completely obsessed too…we just did a ton of seafoam shades on our new kitchen and I’m not tired of it all! thanks so much for the comment!
Hello Leslie,
by any chance can you provide a link to your seafoam sectional from the Brick? I’ve looked around on their site but can’t seem to find the one you have with the tufting in the seat cushions…
also, looking forward to seeing your ORC dining room reveal!
It’s the Paris 3 piece sectional and my colour is Spa. This is the exact one!
https://www.thebrick.com/product/item/furniture/living-room/sectionals/paris-3-piece-linen-look-fabric-left-facing-sectional-spa/1893201/1886397